As we go to town on Saturday afternoon, Mom goes to the supermarket with my little brother. Dad goes to the square to meet his friends. I decide to pay a visit to Manuel at his grocery store. The building is quite discreet but very clean and organized with long isles and tall shelves. Needless to say, the place is busy with customers and he can barely collect his thoughts.
Why hasn’t he replaced Marcos, who’s recently left his store to work someplace else? Is it that hard to find a shop assistant in this town?
Jurandir runs as madly as Manuel, weighing, packing, and handling goods, while Manuel takes in the money. Though Manuel is very stingy, he’s very honest and has never cheated on the change.
“Oh, hi Manuel. I see that you’re busy. I’ll come back some other time.” He opens a broad smile and winks at me.
“Ken! You came to see me! What a nice surprise!” He takes my arm and invites me to join him behind the counter.
His customers keep on coming with parcels and handing him money. Jurandir tells something to Manuel and keeps on rushing to and fro. I observe Manuel carefully, and figure out how he uses his small calculator and cashier machine.
“Let me give you a hand, Manuel.” I start packing the goods and give Manuel a break. He just charges for the items and collects the money. The operation seems quite simple to do. When the customers leave, we seem to have a break.
“You’re such a great helper, Ken. Thanks!” He wipes his sweaty forehead. He takes a parcel and offers me some cookies. It appears to me he hasn’t eaten his lunch yet.
“Manuel, have you had your lunch today?” He shakes his head, while munching another cookie and drinking coffee, which I can tell is lukewarm and syrapy. “Well, in this case, you have lunch and let me handle the cashier counter.” He is about to protest when a customer comes in.
“I can help you, Miss!” I take her goods and charge. Then I collect the money and give her the change.
“I didn’t know you knew how to operate this machine, Ken.” He looks puzzled while chewing on a third cookie.
“Now you do. I have a bit of experience with Mom. She used to sell some farm produce on her passenger truck and I helped her with the payment and packing. This machine, well, it’s like any calculator.” I service another customer. Manuel in the meantime eats his cold meal behind the counter, always keeping an eye on me and his cashing machine. After a while, he comes back to me and puts his heavy hand on my shoulder.
“I just hope you’d work here with me, Ken.” I smile to him.
“I’d love to, Manuel. But I have to help Dad on his farm, remember?” He takes over the cashier and services more clients. Jurandir comes and says something to Manuel.
“Ok, you go, but come back fast! Customers are coming in all the time!” He looks cross and at loss.
“What is it, Manuel?”
“Jurandir says his mom locked herself out of the house again.” I have to laugh and he frowns. “Do you think this is funny? Look at all the customers in the store.” Manuel puts his hand on his sweaty forehead. “How am I going to handle the store by myself?”
“Tell you what, Manuel. You service them with the goods, and I’ll take care of the cashier. I’m sure I can be faster with the machine than you.” I smile. He hesitates for a moment, then smiles and winks.
“If you have any doubts about prices or the machine, let me know, ok! And if you give the wrong change, I’ll charge it on you!” He begins to work frantically, cutting products, weighing, packing, talking to customers. I service the customers and in no time, the store is almost empty.
“What a day, Ken.” Manuel wipes his forehead again. Half hour later, Jurandir comes back, puffing and sweating. “Good that you came! Now I can take a leak!” Manuel protests. Jurandir and I look at each other and smile.
“The old man has never allowed anybody new at the store near the cashier machine. He’s very suspicious and fears people will steal his money.”
“But I think he’s changing.” I service another customer and Jurandir is back to his station.
“Ken, you’re the best.” Manuel puts his hand on my shoulder again.
“Well, now that there are fewer customers, you and Jurandir can manage the store. I’d better be going and look for my folks. Bye Manuel!”
“Wait. Tomorrow I’m going swimming in the waterfall again. Would you like to join me? Say yes, please?” He gives me his best smile.
“I don’t know Manuel. I’d love to but, well, tomorrow we’re going to spend the day at my aunt’s house in Toledo City. It’s a family tradition.” He looks disappointed.
“I see.” He smiles sadly.
“Well, actually I’m not really in the mood to go.” He looks at me with longing eyes. “Tell you what. I’ll talk to Mom and Dad and tell them I’m not going. Then I’ll you call you to confirm, all right?”
“Please, Ken. Make an effort to go! It’s going to be much fun and there’s not going to be any rain this time.” He smiles.
“I’ll give you a call, dear.” He hands me some money.
“It’s for your help, my precious.”
“But I did it because you’re a friend, Manuel. I’m not your employee.”
“It doesn’t matter. Take it and think about tomorrow with love, ok!” I accept the money. He gives me a big bear hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Ok, bye!”
“Goodbye, my precious.”
Geez, it’s nearly six thirty P.M.! I rush to the square, where my family is waiting for me. We usually stay in town until the time for Mass, which is at seven P.M.
“Where have you been, Ken?” Dad asks while we rush towards the church.
As we approach the church, I tell them I’ve been at Manuel’s store this whole time and helped him. He’s even paid me and I show them the money. Mom and Dad smile, and say I’m very smart. My little brother is finishing his ice-cream cone. I tell them about Manuel’s invitation and plead for them to let me join him to the waterfall again. They look at each other and agree. I kiss them both and tell my brother I’m buying him another ice-cream cone after the Mass. He claps his hands and we enter the church.
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